Supporting Free Breast Screening for Local Women
Action Cancer, Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, is delighted to announce that the annual St Stephen’s Day Walk in Ardglass has raised an outstanding £4,771 in support of its Breast Screening Programme.
The funds raised will provide 39 free mammograms for local women aged 40–49 and 70+, helping to detect breast cancer at an early, more treatable stage. These age groups are not routinely screened by the NHS. Community fundraising initiatives such as the St Stephen’s Day Walk are therefore vital in ensuring continued access to this life-saving service.
The St Stephen’s Day Walk has become a much-loved tradition in Ardglass. First established by Comgall Milligan as a way to bring the community together after Christmas, the event has grown year on year. The tradition was carried forward by Paul O’Shea before the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Sean Laird proudly taking up the mantle in recent years.
This year’s walk once again attracted a fantastic turnout, with families, friends and neighbours completing the familiar route around the village. Volunteer marshals ensured the safety of all participants, while the warm welcome at The Old Commercial Bar offered the perfect opportunity for people to reconnect and reflect on the year gone by.
Local fundraiser and organiser Sean Laird said:
“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who came out and supported the walk, which I’m delighted to say has been our most successful to date. It has become a day when we remember loved ones, celebrate our community, and raise money for a cause that makes a real difference.
“Our community has felt the devastating impact of breast cancer in recent years, so supporting Action Cancer’s unique breast screening service felt like the perfect fit. Knowing that the funds raised could help detect breast cancer early – and potentially save the life of a local mother, sister, aunt, cousin or friend – means so much to us all.”
The money raised will directly support Action Cancer’s Breast Screening Programme, which provides 8,000 free mammograms each year at Action Cancer House in Belfast and via the Big Bus mobile unit, which travels to 175 locations annually throughout Northern Ireland. The breast screening service is free to the user but each appointment costs the charity £120.
The charity’s Breast Friends campaign aims to raise £30,000 each year towards this service by encouraging individuals, community groups and workplaces to host their own fundraising events.
Lisa McClenaghan, Action Cancer’s Communications and Breast Friends Campaign Manager, praised the community’s dedication:
“The Ardglass walk is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people come together. Sean, his family, friends and everyone involved should be incredibly proud. We are so grateful for their hard work and commitment to this special St Stephen’s Day tradition. When it comes to breast cancer, early detection saves lives. The support shown by the Ardglass community will make a real and lasting difference to local women all across Northern Ireland.”
Action Cancer’s breast screening service receives no government funding and relies entirely on public donations. Community events like the St Stephen’s Day Walk play a crucial role in sustaining this vital work.
For more information on Action Cancer’s Breast Screening Programme, visit www.actioncancer.org. To learn more about hosting your own Breast Friends fundraiser, contact breastfriends@actioncancer.org or call 028 9080 3361.
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